Fatal shooting of peregrine falcon, info sought.

I just wanted to pass along information for those birding anywhere around northern Indiana. I got this information on a IN-BIRD-LIST that I belong to and wanted to pass it along. I have seen these raptors hunting/flying around the steelmills and they are awesome.


Thanks for reading.......



Indiana DNR Fish and Wildlife




Information sought on fatal shooting of peregrine falcon

DNR Law Enforcement seeks information on the fatal shooting of a peregrine
falcon that was found injured in Floyd County near the I-64 bridge in New
Albany on Dec. 22 of last year.

The bird, which was found to be a captive-bred injured female, was brought
to the Hardy Lake Raptor Rehabilitation Center that night by Indiana
Conservation Officer Gary Pennington. The center's personnel took the falcon
to a local veterinarian, whose X-ray determined the bird had been shot. The
falcon died Dec. 31.

According to John Castrale, the DNR's nongame bird biologist, the falcon,
which he banded and released in Evansville in 1994, had not been reported
since 1995. The bird was named Phoenix, and may have been nesting in the New
Albany/Louisville area where pairs breed on tall buildings and under
bridges. Most peregrine falcons are banded as nestlings and later
identification can be made if individuals can be approached. The biologist
said the bird was relatively old for the species. The oldest he's aware of
in the Midwest lived to age 19.

Peregrine falcons were removed from the federal endangered species list in
1999 but remain a state endangered species in Indiana.

Anyone with information about this shooting should call 1-800-TIP-IDNR
(847-4367) or go online to
TIP.IN.gov.

Lt. Mark Farmer, public information officer for DNR Law Enforcement, said
combined federal and state penalties for a conviction could result in a fine
of $15,000, six months incarceration and loss of equipment.

Information about the Midwest peregrines (including a searchable database)
can be found at http://www.midwestperegrine.org/


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For more information: Marty Benson, DNR assistant director of
communications, (317) 233-3853.

Heartbreaking....I hope they catch the idiot who shot her. This kind of stuff just makes my blood boil!